Bites & Sips - New restaurants on the horizon

Published: Monday, July 22, 2013 at 9:21 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, July 22, 2013 at 9:21 a.m.

July is shaping up to go out with a bang, at least in terms of new restaurants on the local dining scene. Here are a couple of highlights from the past week.

Buck Wild

The granddaddy of Wilmington breastaurants has some homegrown competition coming from the girl next door.

Buck Wild BBQ & Saloon recently began moving into the former Buffalo Wild Wings space at 29 Van Campen Blvd., about a half mile from Hooters at 5112 Market St. Managing partner Blake Martin and co-owners Jeremy Neer and Anthony Long have launched into a massive remodeling of the roughly 5,000-square-foot space that will seat 160 when their original-concept restaurant is complete.

"It's a sports bar atmosphere with a saloon twist," Martin said, that will feature 40-plus televisions as well as servers adorned in Daisy Dukes and skimpy plaid tops. The atmosphere will be punctuated by a mechanical bull equipped with a live video feed that patrons can watch while in the bathrooms.

Customers will be greeted at the door with a waterfall fashioned after a moonshine still. Carson Seitter, a former K9 officer with the Wilmington Police Department, will be handling DJ duties while serving as operator of the aforementioned bull. And don't be shocked when the waitresses hop up on the bar and begin dancing to his beats.

"We're going to entertain just as much as giving food," Martin said.

Barbecue will anchor the menu, with styles from across the nation. Despite being chiefly an establishment focused on libations and good times, the kitchen will be turning out serious eats, Martin said. Steve Urban has been hired as executive chef.

Martin declined to elaborate on specific dishes, but said, "It's barbecue with a twist. We're doing something Wilmington has needed and been begging for for as long as I've been here."

Buck Wild will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m., with the kitchen fully operational until the 2 a.m. closing time. Imbibers will find 15 brews on tap and a wide range of cocktails while sharing their drinking space with a six-foot sculpture of a bull busting through the wall behind the bar.

Nearby is the former Marlin & Ray's site at 11 Van Campen Blvd., where Martin served as general manager until its closing. That site, we've come to learn, is one of the locations being scouted by developers behind the recently formed LLC angling to bring a Tilted Kilt franchise to Wilmington. That means the town could have three options for décolletage-loving diners within a 10-minute walk of each other.

Buck Wild BBQ & Saloon could open as soon as September. Follow their Facebook page for updates on construction and other announcements.

Oasis Bar & Grill

Michigan fans take note – you'll soon have a watering hole to call home in Brunswick County.

Joined by her sister, Molly Sims, the duo is rehabbing the former Spectator's at 8039 River Road SE, just a couple minutes north of downtown Southport. The space, which Amy Sims said has been empty for the past year and a half, is seeing a significant overhaul that includes a new bar, new seating and some much-needed TLC in the kitchen and bathrooms.

Amy has been in the area for 15 years, and Molly just moved to town to help open the 56-seat eatery, which will feature a menu of American classics like hand-pattied burgers, seafood and steaks, with homemade cheesecakes for dessert. The two hail from Michigan (obviously), and while there aren't any dishes specific to that part of the country on the menu, Amy Sims said she's been on the hunt for cheese curds.

"There will be a little bit of something for everyone," she said, "including the best Alfredo you've ever tasted."

The kitchen will accommodate vegetarians or diners with other dietary restrictions, she added, and a daily, changing "express lunch" option will serve diners within 10 minutes.

One distinct relic will hang from a bar that will be stocked with seven drafts: A rail held in place by brass elephant heads, a familiar sight to patrons who might recognize it from former Southport restaurants Dry Dock and Laredo's.

Oasis will be open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. until a closing time determined by the number of customers. Sims estimated that a midnight closing through the week, with later hours on the weekend, would be likely. They're aiming to be in business before the end of July.

Foodie book club

Here's one last course for folks with bellies too tight for another bite. Devour, a new food publication from the folks who make Encore magazine happen, is sponsoring a food-themed book club at Old Books on Front Street.

I nabbed a copy of the schedule while attempting to pop in on store owner Gwenyfar Rohler. The club meets on the last Tuesday of every month, and upcoming titles include "The Cassoulet Saved our Marriage" July 30 and "The Last Days of Haute Cuisine" Aug. 27.

For more information, swing by the shop at 249 N. Front St. The schedules for the book clubs are on small, printed cards by the register.

Contact Paul Stephen at 343-2041 or Paul.Stephen@StarNewsOnline.com. Find him on Twitter @PaulJ Stephen, or drop a note at the Port City Foodies' Facebook page.

<p>July is shaping up to go out with a bang, at least in terms of new restaurants on the local dining scene. Here are a couple of highlights from the past week.</p><p><b>Buck Wild</b></p><p>The granddaddy of Wilmington breastaurants has some homegrown competition coming from the girl next door. </p><p>Buck Wild BBQ & Saloon recently began moving into the former Buffalo Wild Wings space at 29 Van Campen Blvd., about a half mile from Hooters at 5112 Market St. Managing partner Blake Martin and co-owners Jeremy Neer and Anthony Long have launched into a massive remodeling of the roughly 5,000-square-foot space that will seat 160 when their original-concept restaurant is complete.</p><p>"It's a sports bar atmosphere with a saloon twist," Martin said, that will feature 40-plus televisions as well as servers adorned in Daisy Dukes and skimpy plaid tops. The atmosphere will be punctuated by a mechanical bull equipped with a live video feed that patrons can watch while in the bathrooms. </p><p>Customers will be greeted at the door with a waterfall fashioned after a moonshine still. Carson Seitter, a former K9 officer with the Wilmington Police Department, will be handling DJ duties while serving as operator of the aforementioned bull. And don't be shocked when the waitresses hop up on the bar and begin dancing to his beats. </p><p>"We're going to entertain just as much as giving food," Martin said.</p><p>Barbecue will anchor the menu, with styles from across the nation. Despite being chiefly an establishment focused on libations and good times, the kitchen will be turning out serious eats, Martin said. Steve Urban has been hired as executive chef.</p><p>Martin declined to elaborate on specific dishes, but said, "It's barbecue with a twist. We're doing something Wilmington has needed and been begging for for as long as I've been here."</p><p>Buck Wild will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m., with the kitchen fully operational until the 2 a.m. closing time. Imbibers will find 15 brews on tap and a wide range of cocktails while sharing their drinking space with a six-foot sculpture of a bull busting through the wall behind the bar. </p><p>Nearby is the former Marlin & Ray's site at 11 Van Campen Blvd., where Martin served as general manager until its closing. That site, we've come to learn, is one of the locations being scouted by developers behind the recently formed LLC angling to bring a Tilted Kilt franchise to Wilmington. That means the town could have three options for décolletage-loving diners within a 10-minute walk of each other.</p><p>Buck Wild BBQ & Saloon could open as soon as September. Follow their <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/facebook"><b>Facebook</b></a> page for updates on construction and other announcements.</p><p><b>Oasis Bar & Grill</b></p><p>Michigan fans take note – you'll soon have a watering hole to call home in Brunswick County. </p><p>"Go Blue!" Oasis Bar & Grill co-owner Amy Sims said, followed by a long pause. "Or green, if that's your thing."</p><p>Joined by her sister, Molly Sims, the duo is rehabbing the former Spectator's at 8039 River Road SE, just a couple minutes north of downtown Southport. The space, which Amy Sims said has been empty for the past year and a half, is seeing a significant overhaul that includes a new bar, new seating and some much-needed TLC in the kitchen and bathrooms.</p><p>Amy has been in the area for 15 years, and Molly just moved to town to help open the 56-seat eatery, which will feature a menu of American classics like hand-pattied burgers, seafood and steaks, with homemade cheesecakes for dessert. The two hail from Michigan (obviously), and while there aren't any dishes specific to that part of the country on the menu, Amy Sims said she's been on the hunt for cheese curds. </p><p>"There will be a little bit of something for everyone," she said, "including the best Alfredo you've ever tasted."</p><p>The kitchen will accommodate vegetarians or diners with other dietary restrictions, she added, and a daily, changing "express lunch" option will serve diners within 10 minutes.</p><p>One distinct relic will hang from a bar that will be stocked with seven drafts: A rail held in place by brass elephant heads, a familiar sight to patrons who might recognize it from former Southport restaurants Dry Dock and Laredo's. </p><p>Oasis will be open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. until a closing time determined by the number of customers. Sims estimated that a midnight closing through the week, with later hours on the weekend, would be likely. They're aiming to be in business before the end of July.</p><p>Foodie book club</p><p>Here's one last course for folks with bellies too tight for another bite. Devour, a new food publication from the folks who make Encore magazine happen, is sponsoring a food-themed book club at Old Books on Front Street.</p><p>I nabbed a copy of the schedule while attempting to pop in on store owner Gwenyfar Rohler. The club meets on the last Tuesday of every month, and upcoming titles include "The Cassoulet Saved our Marriage" July 30 and "The Last Days of Haute Cuisine" Aug. 27.</p><p>For more information, swing by the shop at 249 N. Front St. The schedules for the book clubs are on small, printed cards by the register.</p><p>Contact <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9919"><b>Paul Stephen</b></a> at 343-2041 or Paul.Stephen@StarNewsOnline.com. Find him on <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a> @PaulJ Stephen, or drop a note at the Port City Foodies' Facebook page.</p>